Behind the name: Kris Merritt

Kris Tanoo Merritt is Mike Merritt’s half-brother. They share a Thai mother, who married Kris’ Caucasian father in Thailand before immigrating to the States, and have four other siblings – one of whom is Kris’ twin brother, David.

While Mike was born in Thailand, Kris is a native-born American who looks like an “average white guy with darker skin,” except for the eyes and nose that friends say betray his Asian roots. Still, the two brothers’ stories are strikingly similar, particularly with their embrace of a dual-heritage.

It might seem natural for Kris to do so, but for Mike it was equally important. I had a brief Q&A with the former, a 29-year-old Air Force communications officer, on his name and his being a half-Thai and “half, well, American mutt.”

Do you go by your given name or your American name?
I go by my first name, Kris. No one, not even family, refers to me by my Thai middle name, Tanoo, which means “bow and arrow.”

Is there one name you identify with over the other?
I used to be embarrassed about my middle name and my Thai culture growing up. I’ve since become proud of my different heritage. I think I simply matured and realized my non-white culture made me unique, and I wasn’t afraid of standing out anymore. In fact, I like having a Thai middle name now. I prefer it over a traditional American name.

How does your name inform your cultural identity?
First and foremost, I feel as American as any other American can feel. I was born and raised here, I don’t speak the Thai language, and I have only a few Asian physical features. I feel like a dark brown American, more or less. Since I started appreciating being unique and not simply trying to fit in the crowd, I began to be intrigued by my Thai heritage. In fact, one of my life goals has become to learn the Thai language. Also on that list is to visit my relatives in Thailand… Since I embraced my unique middle name, I’ve become more aware of my Thai background. I would say my Thai name influences me more now than before. If I had only traditional American names, I believe it would be easier to forget my Thai heritage.

This interview is part of Behind the name, a series that explores second-generation American identities from different cultural perspectives. Click here to read more stories of others who are reconciling their ethnic, given identities with their American ones.